Banner Season: Skiers set to make tracks and make their mark with OUA titles on the line

Graphic on predominantly blue background featuring large white text that reads, 'Nordic Skiing Championships, February 24 - February 25, 2024' and the OUA Nordic Skiing Championships logo placed on a small white square placed above it
February 23, 2024

Burlington, Ont. – Ready to not only make tracks in the snow, skiers from across the province are also looking to make their mark amongst their conference competitors this weekend at the 2024 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Nordic Skiing Championships. Hosted at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre from February 24th to 25th, the host Lakehead Thunderwolves will welcome fellow perennial powerhouse Carleton and nine other OUA squads to Thunder Bay for some snow-covered banner season festivities.

­Championship Details:

When: Saturday, February 24 to Sunday, February 25
Where: Lappe Nordic Ski Centre (Lakehead Thunderwolves)
Participating Schools (11): Algoma Thunderbirds, Carleton Ravens, Guelph Gryphons, Lakehead Thunderwolves (host), Laurentian Voyageurs, McMaster Marauders, Nipissing Lakers, Queen’s Gaels, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Toronto Varsity Blues, Waterloo Warriors
Watch: oua.tv / cbcsports.ca / CBC Gem
Defending Champions: Carleton Ravens (W) | Lakehead Thunderwolves (M)

Student-Athletes to Watch:

Brooke Ailey, Nipissing Lakers | Ready for her OUA race debut, Ailey heads back to her hometown trails at Lappe Nordic for this year’s championship outing. Having proven herself to be a consistent top-10 skier thus far this season, the sophomore physical and health education major from Thunder Bay, Ont. is ready to showcase her skills on a familiar course.

Emma Archibald, Ottawa Gee-Gees | Archibald, the Gee-Gees’ women’s team captain, has swiftly risen to become an exceptional para Nordic skiers, competing in the standing (legs only) para Nordic category. Emma’s performances have earned her a spot on the National Para Nordic team representing Canada at her inaugural Para Nordic World Cup. As a para-athlete, her achievements carry a profound impact, breaking barriers and showcasing the strength and skill of athletes overcoming challenges.

Charlie Grabow, Algoma Thunderbirds | Before becoming a Thunderbird, Grabow’s senior season on the Minneapolis Southwest High ski team was very successful. The first-year Algoma student from Minnesota was named the overall champion of the city conference and placed 16th individually at the 2020 Minnesota State Meet. In his debut varsity season, the biology student finished sixth overall in the 24km freestyle ski event and second in his age category in Marquette.

Joe Hutton, Nipissing Lakers | Coming off an OUA all-star performance from last season, Hutton has had a strong start to this season as well. He was the conference’s top racer at the December Candy Cane Cup and Lakehead Ontario Cups. Last winter, the senior from Lakeside, Ont. also raced for Canada at the FISU Games in Lake Placid, which will certainly contribute to the veteran experience Hutton brings to Lappe this weekend.

Aidan Kirkham, Ottawa Gee-Gees | Captain for the Ottawa men’s contingent, Kirkham has been a mainstay on the varsity stage for some time and continues to be a standout racer therein. Last season, Kirkham represented Canada at the FISU World University Games, which included a 16th-place performance in the distance event, and represented Team Canada at FIS World Cup events. His notable achievements on this international stages underscore his potential as a podium contender at the 2024 OUA Championships.

Alec MacLean, Guelph Gryphons | A senior from Oro Medonte, Ont., MacLean has produced a strong season to date and is looking to continue those strong results onto the championship stage. The senior skier placed fifth at the Ontario Cup #3 and just outside the top-20 at the Eastern Canadian Championships, and with plenty of experience under his belt, MacLean will surely be making a push for a triumphant weekend in Thunder Bay.

Helen McCulligh, Carleton Ravens | Back for more after a successful banner season debut in 2023, McCulligh will be a contender for top three results this weekend. A reigning OUA all-star, the business major from Ottawa, Ont. is in the midst of a great race season with consistent performances across the board, anchored by multiple top-three finishes and wins. McCulligh will need to continue to ski at her best to fend off a tough field, including several of her teammates, at the OUA finale in Thunder Bay.

Conor McGovern, Lakehead Thunderwolves | A decorated member of the defending champion Thunderwolves crew, McGovern is looking to add to his already impressive OUA medal haul. A year ago, the Winnipeg, Man. product finished with a pair of third-place showings in the individual competitions before adding his third medal – a gold – alongside his teammates in the relay competition.

Maddie Norman, Laurentian Voyageurs | A junior earth sciences major, Norman was a key cog in Laurentian’s second place showing a season ago. Helping her Voyageurs venture to the silver medal position was her fifth-place individual result at the banner season festivities. This past January, the Ottawa, Ont. product also crossed the line in second in Lakefield, which should offer a momentum boost heading into the OUA finale.

Manika Wechsler, McMaster Marauders | An experienced racer from Nakkertok Nordics racing program, Wechsler will compete at her first OUA Nordic Skiing Championships as a Marauder. The Ottawa, Ont. local was a key member of the Glebe Collegiate Institute's gold medal relay team at the 2023 OFSAA Nordic Championships, where she also placed 16th out of more than 100 racers in the individual freestyle race.

Seamus Williams, Carleton Ravens | Continuing on the tradition, Williams becomes the fourth skier in his family to don the Ravens race suit, and will do so at his first OUA Championships this weekend. The newcomer from Cantley, Que. has kept his more senior teammates on their toes this season with his speed, and despite being sidelined for some of the lead-up events, he has able to go stride for stride with the top skiers in the OUA when healthy. Williams is poised to produce an all-star worthy weekend and contribute to Carleton’s team score to cap off his debut varsity campaign.

Storylines to Keep an Eye On:

Carleton conquered the women’s field with ease a year ago, and in 2024, they bring much of the same contingent to the banner season stage. Although they are as strong as last year, the black birds are ready for the challenge that other teams could present, and are ready to put their best foot forward to claim another OUA banner. Finishing one spot down the podium in 2023, the Carleton men’s crew also boasts a strong returning core. Adding a pair of quick first-year skiers to the championship roster brings some added potential to their lineup as they look to challenge for the top of the OUA podium.

The Lakehead men’s team was all over the podium in 2023. With gold and bronze in the freestyle race, silver and bronze in the classic start, and gold in the team relay, the Thunderwolves were the runaway winners for the overall banner. Not only will the group be looking for continued success as the defending champs, with the likes of McGovern, Erikson Moore, and others returning to the tracks, but will also do so on their home course as championship hosts.

The defending silver medalists on the women’s side, Laurentian is looking to not only get back on the podium this time around, but capture their first OUA banner in 20 years. They will be among those hoping to make some noise once the championship races begin, while their fellow Voyageurs on the men’s side are hoping to build on a fifth-place showing in 2023 and produce a podium-finish of their own this weekend.

Todd Harris is in his first year coaching both the men’s and women’s teams at McMaster, but the Marauders alumnus has continually grown the groups’ skills throughout the season. The maroon and grey are sending 10 athletes to this year’s provincial competition – five women and five men – and with depth on both sides, while also featuring some standouts on the squad, McMaster will set their sights on improved performances at the 2024 finale.

Finishing just shy of the podium in 2023, the reigning fourth-place finishers on both the women’s and men’s side are looking to stop onto the podium this year. With plenty of reasons to be hopeful heading into the weekend, whether that is due to their impressive newcomers like Ailey or seasoned veterans like Hutton, Nipissing will be chomping at the bit to put themselves in medal contention in Thunder Bay.

For the 2024 Championship the Gee-Gees women’s squad has a group of four rookies joining the five championship veterans, and with this solid blend of both new and familiar OUA faces, the Garnet and Grey are aiming high for a podium finish. The Ottawa men achieved that milestone last year, as they clinched the overall bronze for the program. The four returning student-athletes, led by Kirkham, are proving that this team is poised for success once again this year.

What They’re Saying:

“This is a very unique team with exceptional athlete leadership. It, therefore, is challenging to feature two athletes. I will highlight the leadership shown over several years by athletes who are graduating after this season and feature two young athletes who the senior athletes have pushed and supported in their young varsity careers.” – Kevin Shields, Head Coach, Carleton Ravens

“As a school in Southern Ontario, each winter we face the challenge of getting time on snow. This puts us in a situation where every time we are able to ski our team is focused, grateful, and hungry to put in the work. Seeing the commitment my teammates have given to the program this year has made me very excited to see how we can perform at OUAs.” – Nick Sammon, Student-Athlete, McMaster Marauders